Hi everyone,
Today’s topic is an important one and it is this – how do you take over a room with confidence without coming across as arrogant?
I interviewed a potential student the other day and he reeked of arrogance. Just think of people you know, that’s the best way to say it. Think of someone you know who’s arrogant or cocky; they literally think they’re better than other people. That is apparent anytime anyone is that way, and of course what it really is is a mask for insecurity when people overcompensate like that.
Confidence, on the other hand, is freedom. Confidence is walking into a room knowing people are judging you and not caring. All these years of doing one-man shows, I’m so blessed to have these gifts come to me artistically, professionally, and personally from doing them. One of them I learned early on when I played in front of big houses for a Vincent show (a small show for us is five or six hundred people and a large house would be anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500).
If I’m playing in a theatre where there’s 800 people on a Friday night, they paid good money, they put it in their calendar, got dressed up, they went to dinner… it’s an event for them and they’re invested. The second I walk on stage they’re judging me and evaluating whether this is worth their investment, worth their Friday night, worth their time. I want to say most go in there with their arms crossed as if to say ‘prove it,’ but I don’t know how true that is. Whereas other people are so excited, they’re wide open, they’ve heard good things, and they’re very receptive. The answer is there’s probably both in the room, but what I’m trying to say is if I’m performing in a room of 800 people, there are absolutely 800 opinions of me as I start and as I finish that show.
Confidence is ‘I can’t care what you think. I’m not there to try to please you, I’m there to do my job.’ I want to articulate this: I care very much about what I think, I want to be a pro, I want to give you a beautiful show, I do, but without having ego attached to that. One of the things Sandy taught us all is that it’s not about you.
That’s true not only in working off the other actor, but I believe it’s true as an artist, as an actor. I just mean it’s not about you when you’re working on anything. You’re there to be of service. That’s the beauty of being an actor, you’re there to be of service to the script, the director, the vision, the other actors, the crew, the audience, and to the art and craft of acting. It’s not about you and the more you can get your ego out of there, the cleaner and freer your work is, and in my opinion the more confident you are.
 
I HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU
I’d like to invite you to check out my Artistic Family Newsletter. These newsletters are for any actor in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, Europe, and beyond because my goal every week is to empower, inspire, and educate any actor living anywhere who has the burning desire to really do this.
I believe these newsletters are the best of what I do as an acting teacher and it’s free to you, so join our family today by going here and signing up.
 
ANOTHER GIFT FOR YOU
When you register today I’ll also send you the link to my Q&A Webinar that was held a few weeks back. This hour long video Webinar was a wonderful exchange between myself and dozens from our Artistic Family members so I hope you’ll enjoy the information as much as I enjoyed sharing it.
Ok, see you next Wednesday so until then my very best to you,
Jim